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Home My WebLink AboutE-Communicator-City Publications-9/30/20131 IN THIS ISSUE Tax Rate Unchanged for FY 2014 Budget Haunted Trail Fest City Notes Book Clubs at Library Colleyville PD - 40 Years of Service Senior Center Fall Brochure QUICK LINKS CITY OF COLLEYVILLE CITY NEWS PUBLIC MEETINGS OCTOBER ACTIVITIES Incredible Robots Senior Center/ TAX RATE UNCHANGED FOR FY 2014 BUDGET City staff presented the proposed fiscal year 2014 budget to the Colleyville City Council at a worksession in August. The combined expenditures and transfers total $37,269,855. Colleyville's property tax rate will remain at $.3559 for every $100 in appraised value, essentially the same rate the city has maintained for almost two decades, with the exception of an increase of less than a penny to build new fire stations in 2008. Voters approved that measure in a 2005 bond election. The city continues to take a strategically measured approach to its financial stability, which has helped to earn it a AAA bond rating, one of only a few Texas cities to have attained the coveted rating. In keeping with the City Council's conservative fiscal policy of a 90-day reserve requirement, the General Fund is projected to have 102 days over the 90-day minimum for a total of a 192-day reserve and the Utility Fund is projected to have 98 days over the 90-day minimum cash balance for a total of a 188 2 Recreation Activity Thu., Oct. 3-24 4:30-5:30 p.m. 817.503.1180 Zumba Senior Center/ Recreation Activity Mon. & Thu., Oct. 3-28 6:30-7:30 p.m. 817.503.1180 Scrapbooking Crop Day Senior Center/ Senior Activity Sat., Oct. 19 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. 817.503.1195 Haunted Trail Fest Colleyville Nature Center 100 Mill Wood Drive Sat., Oct. 19 7:00-9:00 p.m. 817.503.1180 Teen Advisory Board Public Library Tue., Oct. 22 5:00-6:00 p.m. 817.503.1155 Halloween Costume Party Public Library Thu., Oct. 31 3:30-4:30 p.m. 817.503.1150 Registration is required for many activities. Please call for information. For a complete listing of activities, visit Colleyville.com. City of Colleyville 817.503.1000 Suggestions or Comments? day reserve as of Sept. 30, 2013. Preserving and maintaining the city's infrastructure remains a top priority in the proposed budget. Street maintenance is funded at $2.9 million in the coming fiscal year. A quarter of a million dollars is committed to the water and wastewater renewal program, which provides for proactive replacement of water and wastewater lines and valves. The proposed budget also maintains funding for the continuation of economic development initiatives, many of which have led to much of the recent commercial activity in the city. Funding has also been provided to allow the city to capitalize on the potential of new development to bring additional retail/restaurant/office activity to Colleyville. Other highlights include: - Increased funding for technology, allowing the city to maintain a low staff-to-resident ratio. - Funding for additional fire and police personnel to meet the city's current and future public safety needs. - Funding for a revised employee compensation program that moves the city to a performance-based compensation strategy, with some allowance for changes in the hiring market. While the city has funded capital improvement projects in previous years, for the first time, the regular budget includes a comprehensive five-year capital improvement plan (CIP) to address long-terms needs. Capital projects are defined as those projects requiring an investment of $100,000 or more. Projects identified for funding in the first year of the CIP include: - Reconstruct Kingston Estates - Rehabilitate Lavaca Trail - Rehabilitate Jewell Estates - Construct Jackson Road/Cheek-Sparger Road roundabout - Design Frontier Court reconstruction - Reconstruct Pleasant Run Road and construct trail (Veranda Lane to Bogart Drive) - SH26 Phase I construction enhancements - Construction of SH26 Phase II (John McCain Road to Hall- Johnson Road) 3 - Miscellaneous concrete repairs While the average residential property tax in Colleyville is just over $9,400 annually, the city's portion equates to 15% of that total, or about $1,445. For that $1,445, the average household receives more than $2,400 in city service-a good value for taxpayer dollars. If approved, the fiscal year 2014 budget will go into effect on Oct. 1. View the proposed budget. Budget information can be viewed throughout the year, on the Finance Department page. HAUNTED TRAIL FEST One of Colleyville's most popular events, Haunted Trail Fest features a trip along a wooded path filled with scary creatures, spooky sounds, and special effects. Costumed ghouls gather for a night of arts and crafts, games, and fun before venturing down the haunted trail. Costume contests (12 & under) and not-so-scary storytelling-all make for a hauntingly great experience. Haunted Trail Fest takes place on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Colleyville Nature Center at 100 Mill Wood Drive. Trail activities cater to younger children from 7:00-7:30 p.m.; the fright factor intensifies after 7:30 p.m. CITY NOTES Texas Night Out - Oct. 1 Texas Night Out, a community-centered event emphasizing public safety/neighborhood partnerships, is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 1, 6:00-9:00 p.m., at City Park (on Bransford Road). Public safety displays and the annual Police vs. Fire softball match are just part of the activities. For more information, please call 817.503.1200. Fall Clean Sweep The Fall Clean Sweep event, a citywide cleanup campaign, has been cancelled. The larger Clean Sweep event in the spring, which includes hazardous waste disposal, will remain. For information about disposing of bulk trash or other items, call 817.503.1111 or visit Colleyville.com. Water Conservation Stage 1 drought restrictions remain in effect until adequate reservoir levels are reached and the Tarrant Regional Water District is able to lift the restrictions. For complete information, visit the YOUR WATER websection at Colleyville.com. BOOK CLUBS AT LIBRARY Book clubs have been quietly popular for years-offering an 4 opportunity for book lovers to connect, talk about a book or books, and spend some social time with like-minded individuals. The Colleyville Public Library offers a variety of book clubs for every age and interest. The clubs typically meet once a month or every other month at the library. Book club descriptions and upcoming meeting dates are listed below. For additional information, visit ColleyvilleLibrary.com or call 817.503.1150. Books 'n' Bites Book Club Boys and girls in grades 3-5 with titles pre-selected by students. Children can join anytime. Refreshments are provided. Meets once a month on Monday, from 4:00-5:00 p.m. Upcoming meeting date: Oct. 21. Books 'n' Brunch Book Club Books 'n' Brunch is an informal book discussion focusing on new and classic fiction titles. Refreshments and a limited number of books are provided. Meets the second Thursday of the month from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Upcoming meeting date: Oct. 10. 18 & up. Late Edition Book Club The library offers an evening book club for working adults and night owls. Meets the third Thursday of the month, from 7:00-8:00 p.m. Upcoming meeting date: Oct. 17. 18 & up. Keeping It Real Nonfiction Book Club Focusing on non-fiction titles. Meets the fourth Thursday, every other month, from 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Upcoming meeting date: Oct. 24. 18 & up. The Colleyville Public Library is located at 110 Main St., next to City Hall. Pre-registration is not required for book clubs. COLLEYVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF SERVICE The Colleyville Police Department will mark 40 years of service to the Colleyville community on Monday, Sept. 16, at 12:30 p.m., in a commemoration ceremony at the Colleyville Justice Center. Activities include a proclamation presentation, reception, and tours of the Justice Center. Everyone in the Colleyville community is invited to attend. The Colleyville Justice Center is located at 5201 Riverwalk Drive. For more information, call 817.503.1200. SENIOR CENTER FALL BROCHURE ONLINE NOW The Colleyville Senior Center offers programs, activities, and classes of interest to those 50 and better. The latest brochure, with all the Center's offerings for fall, including day trips to area attractions, is online now. For information 5 on all 50 and better programs offered through the Colleyville Senior Center, call 817.503.1195. The Senior Center is located at 2512 Glade Road. View the fall brochure